Author Archives: Ruth

More Mozarabic words in English

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Ruth

The Arabic way of life in Spain introduced some traditional musical instruments that hadn’t been part of Europe before. Names of musical instruments were far from standardized in the Middle Ages, perhaps because they were rarely enough seen. Whatever a … Continue reading →

Posted in Muslim Empire (old series) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mozarabic exports

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Ruth

Spanish Andalusia got involved in Europe’s international markets in completely new ways. In the early Middle Ages, trade operated mostly through fairs. Near to major highways, rivers and harbors, certain places had a traditional time during the year when people … Continue reading →

Posted in Muslim Empire (old series) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mozarabic culture

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Ruth

Spanish natives who converted to Islam were known as Muladi; those who remained Christians or Jews but just dressed and talked in an Arabic manner were Mozarabs. Mozarabic culture left a huge imprint on Spain; it was the majority culture … Continue reading →

Posted in Muslim Empire (old series) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Spain’s water problem

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Ruth

Spain and Portugal share a peninsula that is mostly a high, arid plateau. Portugal’s western coast receives most of the rain. The capital cities of Muslim Andalusia were clustered on the arid plateau; Cordoba gets about 7 inches of rain … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Muslim Empire (old series) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Happy Medieval New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Ruth

The medieval calendar was based on the Roman tradition of the Julian calendar. The Julian calendar used 12 lunar months to track one solar year, with irregular days spread out to keep it as even as possible. Medieval calendars tended … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | Tagged | 2 Comments

Christians in early Muslim Spain

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Ruth

One of the big questions people ask about the medieval years when Islam was ascendant is, “Is it true that they were much more tolerant of Christians and Jews? Was it a “golden age” of co-existence?” Part of the answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Muslim Empire (old series) | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Europe’s first great mosque

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Ruth

Abd Al-Rahman, the half-Berber Umayyad prince, was firmly in control of the Iberian peninsula by the time Charlemagne became King of the Franks. He ruled until his death at age 58, which was long past the average life-expectancy of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Muslim Empire (old series) | Tagged | Leave a comment

Special days after Christmas

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Ruth

Medieval people generally believed that feasts were the way to honor saints, and the week after Christmas was particularly thick with saints to honor. That’s one reason that Christmas seemed like a feast that just went on and on. St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Medieval cycle of life | Leave a comment

Putting “Christ” back in Christmas, 13th cent.

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Ruth

Christmas was always a somewhat troubling holiday for really devout believers. It was a holiday for feasting and getting drunk, and many of the games veered quickly into lewdness (surely Blind Man’s Buff and Pin the Tail on the Donkey … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Christmas drama

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Ruth

The castle Hall at Christmas always had some theater productions. Traveling players may have been engaged to put on shows (Christmas was a time when any and all jongleurs and singers could count on picking up work if they didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | Tagged | Leave a comment